Watkins, Colorado – Norman Teltow, owner of Gold Metal Paint Co. LLC (GMP), was sentenced in November 2013, following a guilty plea in March of the same year, for a brazen and prolonged scheme to illegally handle hazardous waste generated by his aircraft painting business. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of deliberate violations of environmental regulations designed to cut costs at the expense of worker safety and public health.
GMP, operating out of a hangar near Front Range Airport, produced significant quantities of hazardous waste in the form of spent methylene chloride-based solvents mixed with paint residue. Methylene chloride, a highly toxic and flammable substance, requires specialized handling and disposal under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Instead of contracting a licensed waste management company, as legally required, Teltow directed his employees to illegally store the waste in an underground tank on the property. This initial violation prompted an inspection by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
While Teltow initially complied with a CDPHE order to remove the waste from the tank and seal the associated trench drain, his efforts to skirt the law didn’t end there. He then instructed employees to *manually* clean the tank without providing any personal protective equipment. This reckless decision resulted in workers experiencing symptoms of methylene chloride exposure, including headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Undeterred, Teltow then moved to an even more dangerous and illegal practice: intentionally “evaporating” the hazardous waste into the atmosphere.
According to court documents, Teltow ordered employees to pour the waste onto the hangar floor each evening, leaving the doors open to allow the volatile methylene chloride to dissipate. When this method proved insufficient, he reopened the sealed trench drain, redirecting the waste back into the underground tank – effectively restarting the cycle of illegal storage and potential environmental contamination. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, alongside inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and CDPHE, painstakingly documented the evidence of these repeated violations.
Jeffrey Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Colorado, emphasized the severity of the case. “The illegal handling of hazardous waste threatens public safety and the environment and puts workers in harms way,” Martinez stated. “The defendant admits that he attempted to make hazardous waste ‘disappear’ by ordering his workers to allow spent solvents to evaporate and to clean up hazardous chemicals without protective safety gear, putting the workers at great risk. Although this case centers on the illegal treatment of hazardous materials, it’s really about the defendant trying to save a buck by cutting corners.”
The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to pursuing criminal enforcement against those who prioritize profit over environmental protection and worker safety. Teltow was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The violations occurred under 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), a section of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) specifically addressing the unlawful treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste. This case serves as a stark reminder that intentional disregard for environmental regulations carries significant legal consequences.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Norman Teltow
- Company: Gold Metal Paint Co. LLC (GMP)
- Location: Watkins, Colorado
- Hazardous Waste: Spent methylene chloride-based solvents and paint waste
- Violated Statute: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Illegal Activities: Illegal storage in underground tank, unprotected tank cleaning, evaporation of waste, reopening illegal drain
- Sentence: 24 months probation, $10,000 fine
- Agencies Involved: EPA, OSHA, CDPHE
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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